Mel,
Polarization is a procedure which matches the polarity for the generator and the voltage regulator. The majority of the vehicles are manufactured negative ground although some of the older vehicles were manufactured positive ground. The generator has to be set up for either polarity. The generator will charge either way, however the voltage regulator has only one polarity. Whenever the battery is disconnected from the vehicle for any reason the polarization procedure should be performed.
The recommendation on how to polarize a charging system is the following: After the installation of a battery, generator or voltage regulator follow these procedures. The terminals on the voltage regulator are labeled with letters and this is where you will do the polarizing procedure. Both of the components will have battery power so do not start the vehicle or turn on the ignition switch before
polarizing them. You will need a small piece of wire fourteen or sixteen gauge with alligator clips on the ends. Find the "B" terminal on the regulator and attach one of the alligator clips, find the "D" terminal and touch the terminal with the other alligator clip. You can touch the terminals a few times and it will produce a soft light spark. Under no circumstances touch the "F" terminal or any other part of the regulator or you could damage the regulator.
Start the vehicle and you should see the red generator light go off on the instrument panel, you may have to rev the engine up a few RPM, generators have a tendency not to charge at idle speed. If you have a gauge on the instrument panel the gauge will respond accordingly.
-Mike
From: "Howlett, Michael" <Michael.Howlett@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'collyman1@xxxxxxxxxxx'" <collyman1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: FW: Polarizing a generator
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:32:04 -0700
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mel Wyshynski [mailto:mvwyshy@xxxxxxx]
>Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:41 AM
>To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: IML: Polarizing a generator
>
>
>Hello All
>
>I just had the armature on my 40 amp generator rewound.
>Prior to rewinding the generator was charging but it was obvious something
>was wrong (running very hot and the amp gauge was moving back and forth).
>Sunday I reinstalled the generator and it does not charge.
>I recall reading something about polarizing a generator but do not recall
>the procedure.
>If the generator should be polarized what is the exact procedure?
>Thanks for any help provided.
>
>Mel
>1959 LeBaron FDHT
>
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